Keys to the Coalition

Departing from our usual format, we present a guest version of Friday Five about the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government formed in London this week, written by our sister organisation The Relationships Foundation: 

We strongly advocate relationships education at the beginning of a relationship rather than counselling after it has all gone wrong. Here we assess the new government coalition on our five key relationship tests and offer some advice to its leaders.

1. Shared Purpose – enabling common aims and ideas

+ On the plus side the parties have hammered out a governing document and have united to deal with the difficult economic situation. They can do more together than each could do alone.

– On the minus side, however, there will be many forces pulling a coalition apart: so what is the big idea holding them together? National unity governments at a time of crisis can work well, but when the crisis is over, few survive because they lack a deeply rooted shared purpose.

2. Sharing Power – fostering participation and mutual respect

+ The Liberal Democrats have been empowered with more Cabinet seats than many expected and there seems to be a genuine respect between the Prime Minister and his Deputy. Key economic roles for Vince Cable and David Laws show that the risks and the rewards will be shared.

–  Good relationships between two chief executives that are not matched by effective joint working at all other levels do not deliver the desired outcomes.

3. Shared Knowledge – increasing mutual understanding

+ Many coalition MPs, especially those in senior positions, know each other well, having worked ‘together’ in Parliament for many years.

–  The number of new MPs, many of whom recently fought bitter battles with their new coalition partners, is a cause for concern.

4. Shared Story – creating momentum and a sense of belonging and loyalty

+ All relationships have a narrative story – the memory of the past and the imagination of the future. A five-year deal should encourage a sense of belonging, loyalty and commitment.

–  When asked to tell a joke, David Cameron used to say ‘Nick Clegg’. The relationship between the parties has a long history and much of it has involved bitter battles. Changing this story will be difficult.

5. Shared Communication – building trust and understanding

+ The importance of communication cannot be over-estimated, particularly face-to-face meetings. Adjoining offices for the Prime Minister and his Deputy would set the tone.

–  Openness, honesty and attentiveness are the necessary qualities – but they go against the habits of a lifetime for most politicians.

Our advice – the coalition needs a big idea which spans all departments leading to joined-up government with a purpose. Everyone must have a stake in this big idea so that it becomes part of the coalition’s narrative. They must also respect each other’s differences, seek creative solutions as opposed to conflict and talk to each other directly rather than through the media.

Fail these five tests and we will be back in the polling booths before we know it. Get them right and the coalition could go the distance. Such a government would be a powerful model for how public services, and indeed society as a whole, can work together for the progress we desire.